The Garden's first logo was created in the 1970s. The author of the graphic is Maria Marczewska, wife of Andrzej Marczewski, director Boguslaw Molski's plenipotentiary for horticultural affairs. The logo from that period depicts a figure tending a plant against a background of the setting sun, which is surrounded by the inscription OGRÓD BOTANICZNY PAN WARSZAWA. This first logotype is quite elaborate both in terms of form and color, and comes in various color variations. However, before this logo was created and received approval, it was preceded by many handwritten and intricate sketches. As rumor has it, ideas for the logo were born in the heads of many employees of the Garden at the time, and with the hands of Mrs. Maria Marczewska they were poured onto paper. The author's handwritten sketches and drawings have survived to this day. The exact date of the creation of this logotype is not known, but our garden documentarians dug up a photo from 1978, in which you can see how the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party - the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party - Edward Gierek - wears the then logo of the Garden in the lapel of his jacket.

The first change of the logotype took place in the 1990s, when the Powsin Garden was managed by Prof. Jerzy Puchalski. The idea of refreshing and modernizing the logotype was born on the occasion of the Garden's 25th anniversary, and it was to appear at the anniversary celebrations. The new logo was to bear the conferences: "Plants and Environmental Pollution" and "The Use of Plants and Botanical Gardens at the Threshold of the 21st Century". The author of the graphics is Mr. Janusz Golik, who, in addition to the logotype, is also the creator of the monument and plaque dedicated to the memory of Prof. Boguslaw Molski - the founder and first director of the Garden. The 1990s logo consists of two letters - "O" and "B" (the abbreviation for Botanical Garden). The letter "O" is an extension of the lower belly of the letter "B" and does not close to form a full circle. This symbolizes the ability to enter the Garden and make it accessible to visitors. Above the letter "B" there is a dot symbolizing a flower, and to the left of the stem of the letter "B" there is a graphic sign symbolizing a leaf - the whole forming a plant motif. The logotype uses two colors: yellow and green. In 1993, the logo was filed with the Patent Office and in 1995 was granted Registered Trademark status.

Another change took place at the end of 2017, when the Powsin Botanical Garden came under the ownership of Dr. Pawel Kojs. The reason for the change of the logo was the desire to modernize it, refresh and give it lightness and, above all, adapt the graphics to the prevailing standards in the modern world. The author of the current logotype is artist and graphic designer Veronika Julia Ratajska. The new logo is meant to refer to the previous logotype - hence the retained letter "B" and the leaf. The author's idea was to harmonize the Garden's logotype with that of the Polish Academy of Sciences so that the two signs, which often appear together, do not diverge stylistically. The circular, closed form of the mark from the 1990s was therefore abandoned. The 2017 version remains in effect today.

The year 2024 is an anniversary year. The Garden, under the leadership of Prof. Arkadiusz Nowak, celebrates its 50th birthday. On this occasion, the Garden's logo undergoes a temporary change and acquires a gala robe. In the anniversary version, the logo is enriched with the inscription: 50 years. The author of the festive version is the outstanding graphic designer, photographer and friend of the Garden Prof. Leszek Szurkowski. The anniversary logo will be in effect throughout 2024, and like 25 years ago, the logo will appear on anniversary and anniversary materials and accompany the scientific conference scheduled for September of this year.

Collected and transcribed by: Agnieszka Pfeiffer
Documentation and Archives: Anna Gasek and Damian Matynia